Sermon Central
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Psalms: Songs From The Heart Of God
Contributed by Tom Fuller on Sep 11, 2012 (message contributor)
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1. Introduction To The Book Of Psalms
Contributed on Sep 11, 2012
The book of Psalms connects us to the emotional content of the song writer and the heart of God. In this introduction we talk about how the Psalms is the most unique book in the Bible.
The Book of Psalms is one of the most unique books in the Bible. It was written over a long period of time by a large number of authors. These songs were collected and organized and eventually we get the 150 psalms that we have today. They range from the very long to the very short. What’s ...read more
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2. Does God Rub Off On You?
Contributed on Aug 25, 2013
God is good and powerful that, even though we fought Him tooth and nail, He still saved us, cleansed us and now transforms us into His character. That wonderful work is something to behold, and the riches we receive are incredible.
Psalm 112 is about the character of people who have submitted themselves to be led by God. It follows on the heels of Psalm 111 which reveals the character of our God. In that psalm God is described as gracious and compassionate, a provider, Someone who makes promises and keeps them faithfully, and ...read more
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3. What Stands Between You And God?
Contributed on Sep 3, 2013
As humans, our default position is to be self-centered. And unless we are aware of it and address it, we will always act in our own best self-interest. But as the Psalms show us, we are not the center of the universe - God is. And that's a very good thing
Psalm 115 is all about how silly we as humans can be, thinking we can actually do anything apart from God. It is also about who really gets the glory—God or us? By the way, many of the lines in this psalm are also found in Psalm 135. 1 – 3 If more of us would live by verse 1 of ...read more
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4. Hosanna!
Contributed on Sep 12, 2013
To the Jews, Hosanna meant "Help - Save us!" But it morphed in its meaning in a way that gives us all hope. This psalm is jammed full of Messianic references and hope for the future king of the world: Jesus.
In this psalm we see the victory brought about by the Lord for a king of Israel. It is full of Messianic references. As such I think we can also safely look at it in terms of the victory God won for us over sin through His Son Jesus. Let’s begin, though, in Mark 11, which we normally study ...read more
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5. The Mirror
Contributed on Sep 16, 2013
Psalm 119 is all about God's Word, but is the Word an instruction manual with every detail of life enumerated for us, or is it more a character sketch of the most beautiful and wonderful being ever?
Psalm 119 has been called the Mt. Everest of the Psalms. It is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. What I love about it is that it is all about God’s Word. And that’s what we are about here at Calvary Chapel: teaching God’s Word. I’ve heard a slur about ...read more
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6. Looking Up To God
Contributed on Sep 30, 2013
The temptations and accusations of the world are like a man-eating plant that wraps its legs around our character and seeks to drag us down. God's Word is like the searchlight from a Coast Guard helicopter, coming to rescue us in times of trouble.
Psalm 119 is a celebration of God’s Word and a literary masterpiece. But there is also a story arc in this psalm that we can relate to. The psalmist, quite possibly Ezra, is facing temptation and opposition from the world—in an attempt to keep him from serving Yahweh and obeying His ...read more
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7. Looking Down The Path
Contributed on Oct 7, 2013
Each decision we make in life is not a discrete unit. It is connected in a long chain of decisions that leads in a trajectory either towards the character of the Lord or away from it. This part of Psalm 119 helps us set the right course in life.
105 – 112 Verse 105 is one of the coolest verses in the Bible. It really speaks to the working of God’s Word in our lives. A “lamp to my feet” suggests providing guidance in the near-term, the everyday sorts of decisions in life: how do I answer, how should I react, what ...read more
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8. Life's Dangerous Journey
Contributed on Oct 21, 2013
Living a life dedicated to God can be a dangerous undertaking. There are physical, emotional and even spiritual battles that threaten to take us away from trusting God and being used by Him. These psalms offer hope in that journey.
Psalm 120 begins what are called the “songs of ascent.” The Jews sang these 15 songs as they made their way “up” or “ascending” to Jerusalem for one of the feasts. You can just picture groups joining up and singing together on the road. So much better than many ...read more
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9. Fruitfulness In The Midst Of Great Pressure
Contributed on Oct 30, 2013
How do we have a fruitful life - one filled with joy amidst the pressures of this age? These five psalms of assent give us clues as to how God blesses in the midst of pressure.
Last time we talked about the first five of the Songs of Ascent. They mostly had to do with pilgrims journeying from far away lands, anxious to get away from people who put down the truth of who God is and come into God’s presence in Jerusalem. This time we will see the next five psalms, ...read more
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10. Humility To Praise
Contributed on Nov 4, 2013
When you are at the bottom it seems like there is no way up or out. But in the final five songs of ascent, we see that the way is the way of Yahweh.
In a way, the final songs of ascent contained in Psalms 130-134 trace the path of salvation and unity with God, which leads to abundant praise and thanksgiving for all that He has done for us. Psalm 130 starts with the cry of the broken-hearted. 1 – 2 When either you find yourself in ...read more
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11. Digging For Water
Contributed on Sep 17, 2012
Everyone wants wisdom, but Psalm 1 gives more than just good advice, but vital information that can affect your entire life and beyond. It describes two paths in the life of your mind. Choices matter, which one are you making on a daily basis?
This Psalm reminds me of Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” To be happy means to have thoughts and make decisions as God would. But often our ...read more
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12. God Our Rescuer - God Our King
Contributed on Sep 24, 2012
Psalms 2 & 3 show us that God is in charge no matter how the human default condition of rebellion tries to get in the way. They also show us that when faced with difficulty there are four things we do naturally that make our troubles worse, and four ways
Our world today is moving faster and faster away from faith in God. In fact, the very existence of God is regularly called into question. In every part of our culture you are marked as narrow-minded, ignorant, uncool, hateful, bigoted, and foolish for trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior. ...read more
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13. What To Do When You Are Surrounded
Contributed on Oct 1, 2012
Are there times in your life when you feel penned in on every side and there is no where to turn for relief? Do you ever cry yourself to sleep only to wake up early? If so, then these psalms are for your comfort and hope.
Many think that Psalm 3 and 4 go together. Psalm 3 was to be sung in the morning and Psalm 4 in the evening. If this is true, then the situations are likely the same—David’s fleeing from his son, Absalom, who was trying to take over the kingship of Israel and kill his own ...read more
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14. When Evil Boasts
Contributed on Oct 14, 2012
Sometimes it feels like people who boast there is no God and they will not be accountable for what they do are everywhere. But Psalms 10, 11, & 12 show us the true character of evil and the true heart of God who hears, observes, and rescues those who take
Do you believe that there is such a thing as evil? Our culture today suggests that there is not. A recent book “Love Wins” even suggests that there is no hell or punishment for sin. I think we don’t want to accept the fact that there is evil, and most of the time it is simply ...read more
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15. Waiting
Contributed on Oct 29, 2012
The thing we have the least patience with is waiting. When we are facing a difficulty we want instant results. When God doesn't operate on our table we get frustrated. David got frustrated too but how he handles it can help us have patience too.
Psalm 13 teaches that waiting is really hard. There is nothing worse than being in a tough space and pleading with God and nothing happens! We saw this in Psalm 10 as well when David cried: “Why do you stand so far away?” 1 David feels like God must have forgotten him in his ...read more
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16. Is This All There Is?
Contributed on Nov 4, 2012
In our world of entertainment, glitz, and glamor, we are led to believe that if we follow the pattern of this age we can get satisfaction. But in the end it is only temporary. David tells us that the satisfaction that comes from a relationship with God ha
Psalm 16 is a Miktam. We don’t know what that Hebrew word means, but it could suggest music in a “plaintive” style or a contemplative poem. This psalm is about God’s protection, praise, and provision. It is about how to live life in the here and now, and how to be assured of ...read more
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17. God As Your Warrior
Contributed on Nov 12, 2012
No matter how deep of a hole you find yourself in, if you have a relationship with God He will hear, He will find, and He will rescue you, though the victory may not be what you expect, it is accomplishing God's will
Psalm 18 is the longest Psalm we have dealt with so far at fifty verses. It appears to have been written by David (though some argue against this) at a time after his lengthy battles with enemies that surrounded Israel and Saul’s battle against him for the kingship. It really speaks to ...read more
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18. Do You Feel Forsaken?
Contributed on Nov 25, 2012
Often Christians their most difficult moments when they choose to trust God in difficult times and then He seems not to answer. David, and Jesus experienced this and we can learn from their reactions.
Psalm 21 is a royal psalm that celebrates the king’s victory and looks forward to future victories over the enemies of Israel. It’s a psalm that gives us comfort as we entrust our future to Him. This is likely connected to Psalm 20 where David cried out for just such a ...read more
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19. The Good Shepherd
Contributed on Dec 3, 2012
One of the greatest of all the psalms gives us hope when venturing out of the sheep pen that a God of great love will accompany us in life's darkest valleys.
Psalm 23 is by far the most well-known of the psalms. Many people who are not Jewish or Christian can often recite it from memory. It has even made its way into popular films and TV shows (mostly in graveside scenes). Overall this psalm gives us a picture of God as provider, no matter what ...read more
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20. Victory From Mistakes
Contributed on Dec 11, 2012
Our first inclination when we blow it is to hide from God. But as we learn in these two psalms, our first reaction should be to turn to God and trust in God to forgive, heal, and teach us how to be like God. If you have ever sinned or made a mistake, thes
Psalm 24 appears to be a victory parade after a battle with the Canaanites up to the Temple in Jerusalem, carrying the Ark of the Covenant. 1 – 2 The ancient Israelites felt that the earth rested on the waters. But there is more here than meets the eye. The words “seas” ...read more
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21. Be Encouraged!
Contributed on Dec 19, 2012
As we walk through difficulties in life, one of the best ways to get perspective and see our way through to the end is encouragement. David shows us the best way possible to become encouraged!
David appears to be in a jam in this psalm (what else is new?). Some think that this psalm is related to Psalm 25—that the same situation is going on. It appears to be a revolt by the ruling class who are taking “bribes” (vs 10) and not acting in integrity in their ...read more
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22. Who Is In Control?
Contributed on Jan 28, 2013
When we look around at our nation and our culture it is easy to become discouraged and bummed out. But in these two psalms we see reasons for rejoicing no matter what life throws our way.
Psalm 33 is a “descriptive praise” psalm. These types of psalms have two main elements: a call to worship and a cause for worship. In this case, the psalmist’s cause to worship God is that He is the creator of the earth and is sovereign over it and all of the ...read more
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23. Walking With God
Contributed on Feb 4, 2013
Once you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior - what next? How do you actually move forward in your life with God? There are forces that want to keep you from doing well, and we explore them in these two psalms.
In your desire to serve and walk with the Lord did you know there are those who do not want you to succeed? There are forces arrayed against you to keep you from loving, mirroring, and serving the Lord. These forces are not friendly, they don’t mean well and cannot be reasoned ...read more
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24. Taking The Long View
Contributed on Feb 10, 2013
What do you do when the culture around you and life seems to go south? Do you rant and rave and get bummed? Get some incredible advice from David on how to put life and difficulty into perspective.
Psalm 37 ought to be required reading for all Christians. It gives us hope for the future while we live in a wicked world and it gives us direction for how to live our lives given the hope that we have in our Messiah Jesus. Notice as we walk through this psalm how much it sounds like a series ...read more
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25. The Problem & Solution To Sin
Contributed on Feb 18, 2013
Sin is one of those things we don't want to talk about or face. But it is the central problem facing us every day. There is a solution, but it starts with facing sin head on.
In Psalm 38, David is greatly afflicted from sin. I think this psalm really reveals to us how deeply David felt about sin—and it offers hope for us who also feel that guilt deep in our souls—that God our Savior is always there to forgive the humble in heart. 1 – 2 Here ...read more
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26. What To Do When I Am Depressed
Contributed on Feb 25, 2013
Depression sometimes hits us, but we often don't know how to handle it or get out of it. In fact, we feel guilty for even being depressed. But these psalms give us some clues on what to do when we are down.
The book of Psalms is actually made up of four books. Psalm 41 ends Book One, which is made up almost entirely of David’s psalms. The final psalms of each book are similar in that they offer a doxology of praise to God. As such they are called “seam” psalms because they piece ...read more
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27. The Warrior & His Bride
Contributed on Mar 4, 2013
These three psalms give us a wonderful picture of salvation, the Bride of Christ, and Jesus the Warrior King who rules for truth, justice, and humility.
This is a “maskil” which can mean a contemplative song or a well-written song. Psalm 44 is another of those laments where the people are feeling that God has rejected them because He has not rescued them from trouble. They’ve searched their hearts and can find no sin, but ...read more
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28. Return Of The King
Contributed on Mar 11, 2013
Do you contemplate the love of the Lord for you? Do you thinkabout him as the King of the earth and the King of your heart? In these psalms, catch a vision for what it will be like when Jesus rules.
Psalm 47 is about declaring how wonderful our king really is. 1 – 4 Verse 1 is the source of a well-known chorus (in the New King James version). Clapping of hands was a sign of enthusiastic celebration (2 Kings 11:12, Isaiah 55:12). I picture the king coming into the palace as ...read more
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29. How To Approach God
Contributed on Mar 17, 2013
Have you ever wondered how to approach God? Mankind makes up all kinds of ways to do it including external shows of relgious piety or elaborate ceremony. But in these three psalms we see God's recipe for drawing close to Him.
While Psalm 49 taught us that no amount of money can rescue you from the grave or redeem your life before God, Psalm 50 teaches that no amount of religious practice can save you from the wrath of God against evil. As in both psalms, only trusting in God for your salvation is what ...read more
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30. Frienenemies
Contributed on Apr 9, 2013
Betrayal is one of the hardest things we have to deal with, especially if it is a friend or brother or sister. David experienced much betrayal in his life and in these Psalms we learn how to effectively deal with friends who become enemies.
Psalm 53 was probably adapted from Psalm 14 after Israel experienced a tremendous military victory over a godless people. It acknowledges that there are some people who reject God so thoroughly that they live as if they will never have to give an answer for their behavior. In the Scriptures, ...read more