Introduction to the Psalms

Hope Church - Fort Worth, TX

In this message, Pastor Matt kicks off a new summer sermon series on the Book of Psalms. He shares how the Psalms came alive for him during the difficulties of 2020 and have become a regular part of his devotional life. The Book of Psalms is a unique collection of 150 ancient Hebrew poems, songs, and prayers that span 1000 years of Israel's history. The Psalms express the full range of human emotion and experience, capturing life's highs and lows.

Pastor Matt introduces the literary structure and devices used in the Book of Psalms:

• The Hebrew word for Psalms means "instrumental music" and "poem set to notes." The Psalms were used in worship by the choirs in Israel's temple.
• The Book of Psalms is deliberately structured into 5 "books," which parallel the 5 books of Moses. It serves as a "Torah" or instruction for God's people on prayer.
• Psalms 1 and 2 form an introduction, highlighting the themes of trusting in God's word and hoping in his Messianic king.
• The two major types of Psalms are lament and praise, with lament predominating in the first half and praise in the book's second half. This mirrors the movement from sorrow to joy.
• Ancient Hebrew poetry uses literary devices such as terseness (being concise), parallelism (rhyming ideas, not sounds), and figurative imagery (painting pictures with words).

Understanding these literary features helps uncover the deeper meaning the authors intended to convey. The Psalms are "literarily literally true" - they accurately use poetic devices to communicate God's timeless truth.

Pastor Matt does a deep dive into Psalm 1, which contrasts two ways to live - the way of the righteous who delight in God's word and the way of the wicked who ultimately perishes. The Psalm paints a picture of the progressive steps of sin - walking, standing, and finally sitting with scoffers and mockers of God. In contrast, the righteous person meditates on God's word day and night, like a cow chewing its cud. This enables them to be stable, fruitful, and prosperous like a well-watered tree.

The Psalms have much to teach us today about cultivating a deep relationship with God through prayerful meditation on his word. They give us a vocabulary for expressing our emotions to God and provide guidance for navigating life's challenges. The Psalms point us to Jesus, the Messianic King, and lead us to find our ultimate joy and satisfaction in him.

Join us on a journey through the Book of Psalms this summer! The Psalms Scripture Journal and reading plan, available in the description, are recommended resources.

Bible Project Psalms Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9phNEaPrv8 ESV Psalms Illuminated Scripture Journal: https://amzn.to/4aNiXgS