Reading the Bible Together for January – Psalms 1 to 75

Here are just some pointers as you read the Psalms;

• Always read the whole Psalm, they are to be taken as complete units.
• They are poems and Hebrew poetry often repeats the same thing within the Psalm for effect.
• Try to personalise them, e.g. Psalm 51.
• Look for theology, e.g. Psalm 16 – the resurrection.
• Christ is all over the Psalms – this part of your questioning will be extremely rich.
• They are primarily songs so why not sing them to yourself or with others!
• Read them differently to narrative – e.g. meditate on the truths as Psalm 1 suggests.
• Try to note if they are laments or songs of praise, each one will vary.
• Try to get them into New Testament perspective, especially the imprecatory psalms e.g. Ps 69: 22-29. The nature of the warfare of the people of God has changed, we pray against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
• Remember that these are the songs Jesus sang.

The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance. – C.S. Lewis