KNOWING GOD THROUGH THE PSALMS

 
 
 
Every new semester of Bible Study I ask the girls in my group 3 questions… “tell us your name”… “tell us about yourself” … and “what is your favorite book of the bible TODAY”.
 
In the fifteen + years I have been teaching, the hands down favorite book of the bible is Psalms.
 
I find this so so interesting. What makes this book written over 3,000 years ago still so very popular?
 
Here’s my guess at the answer…
 
The book of Psalms is a collection of  songs of worship. It is a book of prayer and praise.
 
To truly understand this we need to dig out the meaning of three words…
 
Worship… verbalizing the WORTH of God. Like if you could put God on a scale and measure all He is and then in amazement you got to tell the world how much His glory weighs because you actually got to see it! That is worship.
 
Praise… is the Hebrew word is Halal (haw-lal’). Can you hear part of  the word Hallelujah? Like the Hallelujah chorus? The word carries with it the idea of shining a big huge spotlight on someone and then when you can see clearly talking about what you see. In God’s case, boasting and shouting about what you see!
 
Prayer… communicating, talking, a two way conversation with the Creator of ALL… and yes, He IS listening and if you give Him a chance He will communicate to you too!
 
So if the book of Psalms is a book of worship and praise and prayer… then the book must be like that huge scale and a giant spotlight on God… on God’s glory and worth. It must magnify…show forth… the very character of God. And in amazement you get to tell Him what you saw!
 
And that is exactly what it does!
 
If you want to know God read the Book of Psalms!
 
150 Chapters of who God is… God’s character… God’s accomplishments… God’s abilities… God’s personality… God’s exploits… and more.
 
This ancient book was mostly written by a “man after God’s own heart”. A man who was the king of Israel. It was written by King David.
 
David was a boy chosen  by God to be King. And the spirit of God Himself rested upon David.
 
 
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him (David) in the presence of his (David’s) brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. 1 Samuel 16:13
 
 
So this king chosen by God, who was a man after God’s own heart, and one that God’s very spirit rested upon wrote songs of worship and praise and prayer. All of these psalms were breathed by God and given to David and then given to us!
 
This is the book of Psalms.
 
Every once in awhile the word SELAH (say-la’) appears in the book of Psalms. It is a Hebrew word that means… “This is so magnificent! Stop and think about it!
 
Because the Psalms were set to music as a way of worship “Selah” was usually a musical interlude so the listener could… stop and think about what was just said. It was a way for the listener to stop and soak in all the bigness and wonder of what they had just learned about God!
 
Selah is one of my favorite words!
 
The book of Psalms is not a book to be rushed through. It is a book, when read, that we should often stop and close our eyes and really take in the glory of the Lord! SELAH!
 
Sometimes I am so overcome by what I have learned about God, I literally put my head down on my desk and cry! Liquid Selah!
 
 
 
 
When my children were growing up I often said… “How can you serve a God you do not know”?  Read the Psalms to know Him better!
 
Let’s look at Psalm 146…
 
 
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
 
I will praise the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.


Do not put your trust in princes,
    in human beings, who cannot save.


When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
    on that very day their plans come to nothing.


Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God.
 
He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and everything in them—
    he remains faithful forever.


He upholds the cause of the oppressed
    and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
 


    the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
    the Lord loves the righteous.


The Lord watches over the foreigner
    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
 
The Lord reigns forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
 
 
 
There is a whole lot we can learn about who God is from this psalm.
 
What I like to do is to make a running list entitled “GOD”… 
 
On that running list I write down all the things I learn about who God is. I keep it in a notebook.  And after I make an entry I SELAH, and tell God just what I have learned about Him and how I have seen these attributes of Him working in my life (which is worship and praise and prayer).
 
 
I can’t tell you how much more I retain from making my own list… by pulling things out of the bible and writing them down myself!
 
Here is an example…( my Selah thoughts are in parenthesis) 
 
 
In Psalm 146 here is what I have learned about…
 
 
GOD…
 
~ He is the Maker of heaven and earth, and the sea and everything in them (yes, I see your great hand everywhere Father! Praise you for your creation. Thank you for sharing it with me!)
 
~He remains faithful forever (Great is Thy faithfulness, O God  my Father!… song)
 
~He upholds the cause of the oppressed (The oppressed need you Lord, they are so vulnerable and hard pressed! Show me how to be your hands and help them)
 
~He gives food to the hungry (Without you I would starve! But even more than that, I need your spiritual food even more! Thank you for my full cupboards and frig! Help the hungry of the world today!)
 
~He sets the prisoner’s free (Lord, I know this well! You have set me free from the bondage of sin and death and from the family of the evil one. You have given me clothes of righteousness through your son, Jesus. I was once a prisoner and now I am free. I would never want that life again!)
 
~the Lord gives sight to the blind (I know how Jesus gave sight to the blind. Amazing! Loving! Compassionate! Jesus also took me from spiritual blindness and gave me perfect vision… vision of you Father!)
 
~ He lifts up those who are bowed down (Just like you lift up the humble, you make those who are proud to bow down. Help me Lord to be humble)
 
~ the Lord loves the righteous (You are the giver of being in right standing. It is a fee gift. A gift beyond measure. It is ALL about YOU!)
 
~the Lord watches over the foreigner (Lord, your word says that we… all who are saved by the works of Jesus… are aliens… foreigners in this world. Thank you for showing great favor to me and watching over me. Please watch over and protect my family. I put them in your hands.  And those who are foreigner’s to your Son’s saving grace, Lord watch over them. Show Jesus to them!)
 
~He sustains the fatherless and the widow (Thank you for giving physical and mental help to the fatherless. There are so so many in our nation. Be close to them today Lord! Help them.  I have some friends Father who have lost their husbands through death and divorce… keep them close to you! Let me be mindful of them.)
 
 
~He frustrates the ways of the wicked (You are my protection… thank you!)
 
~the Lord reigns forever (Lord you are eternal. You had no beginning and no end. You are king now, were king in all eternity past and will be forever into the future. I am so so blessed to be yours… to be the daughter of the king! What an amazing thought. Let me live now, here on earth, as a part of your kingdom. Let me show others just who you are my, KING!)
 
 
 
 Look what I have learned about God this morning… just from 10 little verses! I can go back  during the day and reflect or pray or even tell God again what I have learned about Him. I am amazed by what I have learned!
 
I have gotten to know the GOD OF EVERYTHING better! 
 
 
And what difference does that make in my life? A BIG BIG difference.
 
Knowing God helps me to trust Him more… believe Him… cling to Him in troubled times, give credit to him in happy times and live my life in light of who He is!
 
 
Knowing God makes me want to be like my Father. It makes me want to please Him and work for Him while I am on earth… and look forward to eternity with Him!
 
 
 
I think so many of the ladies in our bible study love Psalms because they can see who God is and they can praise God right along with King David… and all of heaven! What an amazing thing…
 
What a SELAH!
 
 
Here’s my challenge to you today… Do you want to know God more? Do you want to know life changing things?
 
Then start reading Psalms every day. Start with Psalm 1 and read just a few verses. Write down what you have learned about God and Selah!
 
Worship and Praise the God of heaven and earth. Say it out loud… what a prayer you will pray!
 
It will be your own Hallelujah Chorus!
 
This week’s memorization verse:
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life. Psalm 146:1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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61 Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    what a beautiful way to start the day to share the writing of another Believer.When you think we are one family and GOD is our Father.Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.And the Sweet Precious Holy Spirit that gives us His presence.I would say my second favorite Book is Proverbs.

  2. I love Hebrews. And whatever book I am studying. we just finished Philippians in a small Co-Heart group so toay that is what is on my mind. Loving Daniel study too but not in the same way.

  3. Amen! Beautiful! Praising the Lord for you and your voice for Him! /

  4. JenniceRatley says:

    This is something that I truly needed today. Thank you so much for sharing!

  5. Beautiful message and teaching on this snowy Sunday! Didn’t make it to church due to road conditions, but I got a sweet message from the God of Psalms through you, dear Yvonne! Thank you!🙏

  6. Anonymous says:

    I simply loved this! Thank you.

  7. What a wonderful thing to read this Sunday morning. I have a family issue that weighs on me and while reading your words I handed it to God and trust Him to handle it. I feel happy I have discovered such a Godly woman in your blog – thank you.

  8. HEi!wow…das ist wunderschön!Gott ist gutSchöne Woche wünsche ich dir..Bussi.Luciene.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Thanks Yvonne. How inspiring. Your passion shows in all you do-decorating, cooking and the Lord. This was a bright spot to my day!

    Pat in Chicago

  10. So beautiful and inspiring. Thank you very much for sharing. I need it.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Thank you for your inspiring message today!

  12. Anonymous says:

    Yvonne, I love Psalms, too! Every morning I start my quiet time with a Psalm which allows me to read through Psalms about twice each year. It is so interesting that so many times the day’s need is prayed over even before it presents itself. When my mother began a steady decline I landed in Psalm 119 one day and I wondered how God would use it to speak to me. “Teach me, O Lord, to follow” (v 33) and I could rest in the assurance that He is my Guide and would show me how to care for my mother. Yes, the Psalms are indeed a wonderful way to get to know God more intimately. Leslie

  13. Anonymous says:

    ~Yvonne~
    I too read Psalms and Proverbs daily, it truly does make my relationship with the Lord stronger !
    Thank YOU and I hope you are feeling much better.
    Paula
    IN.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Thank you, my Christian friend! I feel the Lord’s touch on your blog and am a faithful reader. Everything to the glory of God!

  15. Thank you, for such encouragement! I also love the Psalms. Reading God’s Word and meditating on what He says is such comfort. Psalm 34 and Psalm 37 have brought much comfort to my life during difficult times on my journey. To God be the Glory!!!! Thanks for being a blessing and I love reading your blog, Hope you are recovering!!!
    Blessed,
    Margie Pousardien

  16. Oh wow! I’ve read this twice. I wish it were in PDF form so I could reread in my kindle. Last summer a friend asked me to try the SPA…I thought, why not. It was set up by a national singer and speaker (Christian ) to do the Summer Psalm Adventure. Her challenge was in thirty days with time for days off. There was an email with a video every so often. Two weeks into it I had sudden cardiac arrest. After a minor procedure…two and a half minutes or so of CPR …no explanation as my heart and all are okay…but four difficult days of seizures and very strange things…I was not able to concentrate to read. Oh it was like my head and eyes were just scrambled. Yes there’s more, the experience during that time I was not living and the doctor worked to bring me back. My weakened body. All I could think was, I will not get my summer psalm adventure done in summer 🙁
    God is good. I was able to continue on, reading, getting excited retreading the Psalms I’ve read several times before all at once. But new eyes God gave me. And before the last day so summer, a week before, I celebrated that God helped me to the finish line! Now I know the word I could have been using as I read SELAH!!!!
    No one ever explained that tiny word in a way that I now can use. Except I have a brain injury and I will need to reread its meaning a few and a few more times to remember the meaning! But your post? I’d forgotten I’d even done SPA until I began to thank you for your post. It was a good memory too. How good God is on a day when so much has been pointing out my uselessness in this world but instead your post uplifted and pointed me to keep remembering to do SELAH as I read Gods word. Worshipping Him IS doing something worthwhile! I did not proofread. It gets hard. But maybe you can understand my heart meaning in being thankful for this post.

  17. Thanks Yvonne for your inspiration…I am starting my challenge! Looking forward to a great week for everyone!
    Judy

  18. Anonymous says:

    Love this idea Yvonne! Psalms is one of my favorite books of the Bible, too. ~ Lisa K.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Thank you for this beautiful lesson. I am going to start my list about GOD today. I look forward to and enjoy the scripture post each week. Terry NC

  20. Oh yes, I too love the book of Psalms! Thanks for sharing this! Praising the Lord for faithful teachers too my friend and seek to do His I’ve been teaching women since 1997 and nothing has brought me greater joy! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

  21. Lupe Weatherly says:

    What a blessing to start the day with the Word of God. Thank you for sharing from His Word. It has been almost 40 years since I became His child. Receiving my Lord & Savior was the best decision I have ever made. He fulfills my life. He’s my everything. May God continue to bless you. L. Weatherly

  22. Norma Rolader says:

    Amen and Amen!!! Beautiful Yvonne and thank you for the blessing on this Sunday morning! God bless and have a blessed Sunday

  23. Isn’t God good. He even gives us words we we need to worship and praise and pray.

  24. Also my favorite! Praise Him!!!

  25. Anne Porter says:

    Praise the Lord, oh my soul. My Selah, in these terribly troubled times: that we may go to Him with confidence and hope and assurance .
    ….that we may trust in His forever presence . Thank you for sharing; you are among the many blessings He has placed on the paths of so many to remind us of God’s great and enduring faithfulness.

  26. I want to be in your Bible Study! Thanks for your blog and sharing yourself with me!

  27. I want to be in your Bible study!
    Thanks for sharing your blog w me!

  28. Jan Cochran says:

    You may be a Bible teacher ,but you are also a writer ! Psalms has helped me overcome many issues through my spiritual journey.
    Like David I have cried out to the Lord for help from on high. The Scriptures have helped in the healing process and continue to do so.
    I cannot go through one day without spending time with the Lord. I will bless the Lord at all times -his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm34:1

  29. What a beautiful and thoughtful post for today! I love the Psalms also! Thank you!

  30. Yvonne thank you for the uplifting post this morning. I too love the book of Psalms they are very poetic. Hope you have a blessed Sunday.

  31. Dearest Yvonne,
    Refreshing to read a post like this!
    Yes, we are all connected as one loving Christian Family.
    Happy Sunday to you.
    Mariette

  32. As always, a beautiful inspiration for a Sunday morning.

  33. Sabrina Ullrey Mow says:

    I love the book of Psalms and Proverbs. Thank you for sharing how you write it down and explaining the verses, what a difference it makes to do this. Have a blessed Sunday.

  34. I love the book of Psalms. Thank you for sharing.

  35. Thanking the Lord today for the Token which is the Holy Spirit to us in this these last days.

  36. Joan Moore says:

    AMEN, just AMEN!!!!

    Bless you for unashamedly sharing the Gospel with your readers!!!❤️

  37. Thank you. So inspirational. Reminder of the truth of Ggods word touching and changing us like nothing else. It’s so easy to let the negative thoughts and negative statements of others shape my thinking. But reading the Psalms reminds me of a compassionate God who heals and lifts up the brokenhearted. I needed that today. Thank you for taking your website to display these timeless truths. More beautiful than a well appointed home or a woman and jewelry and gems, is the truth of a solidly appointed life focused on the power of God and the love of Jesus Christ. Amen and thank you.

  38. Great post! I do something similar in that I began writing out part of the book of Psalms most days in a notebook at the beginning of 2017. I just finished writing out chapter 106. It is amazing how much more you see when you write out scripture!

  39. Thank you for your gift of exhortation. I love Psalm 19 as well as many others.

  40. Psalms is also an inspiration because it shows David at his lowest (some times) and his cry out to the Lord. God always calms a troubled heart. David also pleas forgiveness. Psalms is truly poetic and always such excellent verses to pray back to our Father!

  41. Such an inspiring post. I’m going to begin reading Psalms tomorrow. Bless you and yours! ??

  42. By far, my favorite blog! What a joy to find this in my email today!

  43. Yvonne, thank you for sharing your thoughts on Psalms. It is one of my favorite reads. As a life long “Christian” I have struggled with the modern teaching that Christ is God. When the Book of Psalms was written, there was no mention or foreseen evolution of Christ. So, when I look at the 10 commandments, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. I recognize only one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Christ on the other hand is his son as you and I. He worked many miracles and certainly is a person to be followed but not worshiped. Only God the Father is to be worshipped and called our Lord. With this in mind I have found it very hard to attend modern Christian Churches. I was drawn to God at a very young age on my own, and followed the Christian teachings for over 60 years, always with the growing conflict on the identity of God. Believe it or not I went to Church every Sunday from the age of 4 to 63. and I am more at peace with my self than I have been or years. Just my thoughts.

    1. Oh, Shirls, I agree with you about the why the Christian Churches are teaching about that Jesus is God. I was raised in the Episcopal Church, baptized when I was less that 6 weeks old. In my heart and in my life I have always seen God and been close with Him. I too left the church at 63 and have more peace with myself than in all those years. I have always wondered as David did when he wrote “O God, what is man that thou art mindful of him?” One night while looking at the stars I said those words and God told why He was mindful of man – He created man. It took my breath away and still does every time I think about it. Jesus is Lord but not God who is the Father Almighty.
      Thank you and Yvonne for sharing your hearts today.

  44. Thank you for this post. I read the Psalm out loud to the Lord and tears began and I was reading and talking to Him and He understands
    What a wonderful teacher you are to us. I’ve been a bit lost on true Study of Gods Word although I’m reading and meditating and talking to God about it and such. But I think this would be a great way to do the Psalms in a notebook. There’s some nice ones all i know God blesses our time with Him.
    Thank you again.

  45. Dianne Lanier says:

    Beautiful message. Thank you for sharing!

  46. One of my favorite books is Ephesians, so many lessons.

  47. Praise The Lord!
    Psalms to me is like a blanket of comfort or a bandage of protection. I reach for them on days of joy and days of despair.

    As a child of God, I know God of Israel. And I know Jesus is continually clearly foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament.
    I know that God is my Father. ANd Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Jesus and God are one, as Jesus said in John 14:10 that He and The Father are the same. 1TImothy 3:16, Paul affirms the divinity of CHRIST Jesus.

    It is hard to pick a favorite from the Bible, but I have always loved 1John. There is so much to learn from John in this thesis to reassure Christians in their faith. That is my go to book when I need the Love of my Father.

    Thank you Yvonne for this precious teaching today. You are truly a blessing to your Bible study group and a true child of God.

  48. Thank you so much Yvonne. As much as I love your decorating and recipes I really look forward to your Sunday messages. You really do bless me.

  49. This is such a wonderful way to meditate on the attributes of God and to praise and adore Him for who He is! Thank you for sharing your heart.

  50. Prisilla Cope says:

    Thank you so much for the reminder to open the Bible. I don’t do it as often as I think I am…nor as often as my abuela did with me. Now I have a daughter and I understand the purpose. To praise God in our happiness and our struggles. To get through life knowing God will lift us up. Amen and thank you.

  51. Carolyn Foxworthy says:

    This post blessed me so much and confirmed what the Lord has laid on my heart which is to start the day with him. Love your idea of a notebook to record what we learned from reading the word. I am going to practice this. Thanks so much and God Bless You.

  52. Thank you for this beautiful challenge! I am going to take part for sure! I am dying to get to know God better! ❤️