PSALM 101
I WILL WALK WITH INTEGRITY
This psalm highlights David’s dedication to walking in righteousness. Although we know David was not perfect, he was a man after God’s heart and pursued integrity. David aims to not set before his eyes anything that is worthless, showing awareness that what he consumes affects his heart.
Psalm 101:2-3 - I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
PSALM 102
THE LORD IS ENTHRONED FOREVER
This psalm focuses on the temporary, fleeting lives of humans in contrast to the eternal presence of God. The psalmist writes that they will wither away like grass, but the Lord is enthroned forever.
Psalm 102:12 - But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
PSALM 103
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL
David praises and honors God, thanking Him for His mercy. David trusts God will show steadfast love to those who fear Him. God’s forgiveness spans further than the East to the West—an immeasurable amount!
Psalm 103:11-12 - For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
PSALM 104
O LORD MY GOD, YOU ARE VERY GREAT
This psalm praises God for His magnificent creations, including the sun and the moon, bread and wine, and plants and animals. The psalmist notices how God provides for everything He has created: water for the trees, mountains for the goats, food for the lions. Focusing on the abundant nature of God, the author notes that the earth is satisfied by the fruit of God’s handiwork.
Psalm 104:24 - O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
PSALM 105
TELL OF ALL HIS WONDROUS WORKS
Serving as a summary of Israel’s history, this psalm highlights the ways God has been faithful to His people. Starting with Abraham, God has used this specific family to display His love for and pursuit of humanity.
Recalling the Exodus account led by Moses, this psalm tells of the plagues and God’s gift of manna in the wilderness. The psalmist offers encouragement to remember God’s previous faithfulness as a source of confidence for God’s faithfulness in the future.
Psalm 105:42 - For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.
PSALM 106
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD
Looking back on Israel’s history, this psalm recalls the forgetfulness of the Israelites and the faithfulness of God. The psalmist asks God to remember him and save him like God saved the Israelites from Egypt. He acknowledges that God does not save us because of our works, but instead saves us out of steadfast love and to glorify His name!
The psalmist also discusses the wrath of God, recalling the plagues and mentioning Dathan who was swallowed up by the earth in Numbers 16. This psalm is a great reminder of the blessings and curses mentioned in Deuteronomy 28, reflecting on both the kindness and the anger of the Lord.
Psalm 106:8 - Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.
PSALM 107
LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO
This psalm thanks God for His redemptive work and challenges those whom He has redeemed to praise Him. The psalmist points out how God satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry with good things. God draws near to those who seek Him!
God can deliver people from any sin or circumstance: hunger, thirst, foolishness, rebellion, or whatever oppression they face. The psalmist uses an example of calming the seas. Without knowing it, the psalmist points ahead to Jesus for a future moment when He calms the storm in Matthew 8.
Psalm 107:29 - He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
PSALM 108
WITH GOD WE SHALL DO VALIANTLY
David thanks God for His steadfast love, making a melody by playing the harp and lyre in praise. David sings that God’s love is greater than the heavens and His faithfulness is higher than the clouds. David prays for victory over his enemies and considers the surrounding enemies as insignificant. He knows God is his only hope for salvation, not other people or himself.
Psalm 108:12 - Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!
PSALM 109
HELP ME, O LORD MY GOD
In this psalm of lament, David cries out to God for help, asking Him to curse his enemies. Although David is king at this time and can wield his own power over his enemies, he trusts God to bring justice to them. David is struggling, both physically and emotionally. Even in hard times, David honors God by offering Him praise and thanksgiving.
Psalm 109:21 - But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
PSALM 110
SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND
The opening verse of this psalm, “The Lord says to my Lord: sit at my right hand,” is a reference to Jesus, who sits at God the Father’s right hand. This position, “at the right hand” is one of honor and authority. This verse is referenced in Mark 16:19, Matthew 22:44, and Luke 22:69.
Verse four mentions Melchizedek, who was first mentioned in Genesis 14. Melchizedek is both a priest and a king who blessed Abraham and offered him bread and wine. Melchizedek is foreshadowing Christ, who is both the ultimate king and priest, who gave His body and blood for us.
Through the descendants of Abraham, God is sending someone with more power and authority than David or Melchizedek combined—Jesus! Although this psalm is short, it is filled with powerful promise and prophecy.
Psalm 110:1 - The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
PSALM 111
GREAT ARE THE LORD’S WORKS
This psalm focuses on God’s greatness and the beauty of studying Scripture. God has allowed His wondrous works to be remembered, both for our benefit and His glory. This psalm focuses on the steadfast nature of God and His faithfulness to His covenants.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, showing that practicing awe and reverence for God brings understanding. God’s Word brings both wisdom and delight!
Psalm 111:2 - Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
PSALM 112
THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NEVER BE MOVED
This anonymous psalm describes a righteous person as one who praises the Lord, is generous in spirit, and conducts themselves with righteousness. Similarly to Psalm 111, this psalm attributes blessing and delight to those who fear the Lord.
Those who follow God are not afraid of bad news, instead their hearts are firm with trust in the Lord. Like the woman in Proverbs 31 who is able to laugh at the days to come, the righteous man described is able to trust God even when disaster strikes. Trusting God brings both confidence and peace.
Psalm 112:7 - He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
PSALM 113
WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD?
This psalm glorifies God, honoring Him as set apart from anyone or anything else. There is no one else like God, and He is worth praising from sunrise to sunset. Focusing on God’s generosity, this psalm displays God’s ability to raise up the poor to be among royalty and bring children to the barren.
Psalm 113:3 - From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
PSALM 114
TREMBLE AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
This short psalm focuses on the presence of God. Judah became His sanctuary and Israel became His dominion, where He dwelt among His people.
After carrying the ark of the covenant through the wilderness, the Israelites are thrilled to have God’s presence resting in Israel. God chose to dwell with His people in Jerusalem. The psalmist describes the earth as trembling at the presence of God, alluding to the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and the Israelites crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 3).
Psalm 114:2 - Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
PSALM 115
TO YOUR NAME GIVE GLORY
God’s name deserves glory above any other name. When the Israelites are confronted with having an invisible God, their response is that He resides in the heavens and does as He pleases.
False gods may be visible, but they are worthless and created only by the work of human hands. Those who worship false gods become like their idols, worthless and ineffective.
Israel is challenged to worship God alone, trusting in Him as their help and their shield. God has previously blessed Israel and He will continue to bless those who fear Him in awe and reverence.
Psalm 115:1 - Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
PSALM 116
I LOVE THE LORD
The psalmist writes about his love for the Lord and the many ways God has transformed his life. God has responded to his prayers for mercy and delivered him from death.
Vowing to walk before the Lord, the psalmist gives thanks to God in response to His care and attentiveness. The psalmist describes the death of the saints as precious to reflect the idea that God values the lives of His people and offers hope for believers in the eternity that awaits them.
Psalm 116:2 - Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
PSALM 118
HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER
Focusing on God’s enduring steadfast love, the psalmist thanks God for His goodness. The author trusts that if God is on his side, no man can stand against him.
Verse 20 mentions the gate of the Lord, which points us toward Jesus’ teaching about the narrow gate in which few will enter (Matthew 7:13–14.) Jesus also references this psalm in Matthew 21:42, saying the stone that builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Jesus was rejected by man, but because of His resurrection, He is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
Psalm 118:19 - Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
PSALM 119
YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET
Not only is this the longest psalm, but it is also the longest chapter in the entire Bible! Although this psalm is beautiful in English, it is even more impressive in the original language because of the way it is structured by stanzas each starting with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, also known as an alphabet poem.
The opening verse sums up one of the major themes throughout the psalm, that those who walk in God’s ways are blessed. The author treasures God’s Word and stores it within his heart, delighting in truth more than wealth or riches. The psalmist desires to know God intimately and meditates on God’s Word to discern His ways. Another theme throughout this psalm is prioritizing God’s desires above meaningless desires. Verse 37 says “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways.”
Verse 105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The author is led by God’s Word in all that he does. Throughout the psalm, the writer desires God’s wisdom and values His Word above all else.
In Matthew 18, Jesus tells a parable about a sheep that goes astray, and the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine others to find the lost sheep. The psalm ends by saying “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.” The psalmist knows that God is on an endless pursuit of humanity and that He seeks us when we wander.
Psalm 119:89 - Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
PSALM 120
DELIVER ME, O LORD
Psalms 120-134 are known as the Psalms of ascent, sung by the Israelites as they ascended towards Jerusalem to celebrate the many annual festivals and meals.
This psalm is a cry out to God, asking for deliverance from lying lips and deceitful tongues, possibly a reference to the lies that Saul spoke about David.
While a lot of psalms and prayers focus on God’s goodness, this one is focused primarily on removing the distress of the Israelites.
Psalm 120:1 - In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.