Bible Studies

Psalms

Introduction
Have you ever heard a part of a song before and wondered if it originated from somewhere else? Many songs I've come across contain verses from the book of Psalms, which is the subject of this bible study. Although it was mostly written by David, there are other psalmists who have contributed to this amazing book. If you've read Psalms, you know that the tone can change from depressed to joyful in the same chapter. That's because David knew that what he was experiencing was temporary, and that God would give him what he needed and not necessarily what he wanted.

The Psalms can be very inspirational during any time of your life, and I highly encourage you to read the whole book. If you can't or simply don't want to, that's okay because I've included some of the best and well known Psalms in this bible study, or at least the ones that really impact me. I hope you find them just as uplifting as I did and that you become a better person through what you learn by meditating on God's word. Please enjoy this bible study about the book of Psalms.

Part 1
Welcome to Part 1 of my bible study about Psalms! I'm so thankful to have the time to do a bible study, especially since I've been taking college classes recently. Anyway, let's get started. By the way, this part is going to be a lot of random verses in the Psalms, although they're just as important as any of the other ones. Let's begin!
In this part of the bible study, we're going to look at a handful of verses that range from well-known to never-heard-of. First is Psalm 30:5 from The Message translation. "He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter."

‭‭I don't know about you, but I've heard this verse many times in sermons and worship songs all throughout my life. I love it because it reminds us that our struggles in life are temporary. Whatever storm we're dealing with will pass, and when it does, joy and laughter will become a part of our lives again. It's hard to remember this when we're going through times, but it will help us in a much greater way than we'll ever know.

Psalm 46:10 in The Message version tells us that sometimes we just need to slow down in life, but it says it in such a clear and understandable way. "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."" He just wants us to focus on Him instead of this crazy world that we live in. God knows how we can get caught up in our temporary circumstances. This verse reminds us to take some time to be with God when times get tough.
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Although it may not be as beloved as the other verses so far. Psalm 4:4 is good advice. "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent." This verse commands us to not react when we're upset. Once again, God knows who we are and how we act. He knows that we often act on our emotions, which He's telling us not to do in this verse. He even tells us what to do in the place of acting irrationally. 'Search your heart and be silent'. Really wonder if what you're planning to say in your anger will help or encourage anyone. If it won't, then don't say it.
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"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." That's Psalm 4:8, and it comforts even the weariest of hearts. This verse reminds us that we're not alone because God is watching over us, making sure we're safe. Now that doesn't mean nothing bad will happen to us. It just means that we can have peace knowing that God, the One who created the stars and the universe, loves us and is protecting us.
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There are four verses in Psalm 92 that stand out to me because of the way they express the writer's love for God. "It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done." In this piece of Scripture, David is so thankful for all that God has done for him; he can't help but sing praises to his God. I wish we could all be a little more thankful as David was in these verses.
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"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." This verse, found in Psalm 34:14, is a great piece of advice for anyone hoping to change their ways or become the best version of themselves that they can be. It encourages us to pursue righteousness and all things noble. But to do that, we must turn from evil. The Bible also tells us that we must be hot or cold, in or out. We can't cling to our old ways while claiming that we're different and born again. Our mindsets must change if we truly want to seek what is good.
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"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2 reminds us of God's strength and promise to defend us. The way David wrote this Psalm allows us to visualize God's love for us and how we depend on Him. The words 'fortress', 'deliverer', and 'shield' give us an idea of how He protects us. We are never alone when God is on our side.
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The last random verse from the Psalms can be found in chapter 9, verse 9. "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." Once again, God is our refuge, our strength. He will protect us when times get bad, but we have to have faith that He will. Like I said, God's on our side, so if He is for us, then who can stand against us? A song from Chris Tomlin comes to mind when I think of the Psalms overall. It's Our God, and I think it accurately represents the one who defends us on a regular basis.