Articles
Principles from Psalms
Psalms is like no other book in the Bible. The Psalms, like the rest of the Bible books, are inspired by God. He preserved them so that we could look into the hearts and minds of Godly men who lived long ago.
Scripture is the means through which God reveals His message to man. The Psalms accomplish that feat in an ironic way. God normally used prophets to direct his thoughts to man, but the Psalter is a collection of men’s writing directed toward God. Truly, God’s ways are beyond our ways. Consider some of the lessons God teaches us through the inspired writers of the Psalms.
First, God wants us to know that He listens. If God did not listen, there would be no point in praying. Not only does He listen-He answers. Psalm 135:8-9 is an expression of gratitude for Israel’s deliverance from the Egypt. Exodus tells us, “God heard their groaning…”. God listens.
David was thankful that God heard and answered his prayers. He says, “I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill” (Psalm 3:4). Even when no one else cared, David knew that God listened to his petitions. God hears our prayers, and He answers them according to our needs—the Psalms teach us that.
Second, God desires a close relationship with His people. These writers present personal problems and situations before God. God is one they could trust when the difficulties and struggles of life weighed them down. They confidently poured out their hearts to the Father, the Great Confidant.
Psalm 69 manifests the intimate relationship the psalmists had with the Father. In this imprecatory psalm, David informs God of his affliction, and requests of God, “pour out Your indignation upon them (His enemies, bm), and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them” (Psalm 69:24). David asks for God’s help like he would any other friend.
These godly men expressed their confidence that worldly enemies are no match for God, their faithful friend and protector. “I will not be afraid,” David says, “of 10,000 men who set themselves against me.” God was his shield (Psalm 3:3, 6). They had a close relationship.
God reveals to us through the psalmists that we can have a close relationship to Him. We must place our trust and dependence in God, as did these faithful men in times past. Is it not a blessing that we can, as Psalm 4 states, sleep in peace because the Lord will cause us to dwell in safety?
Our relationship to God is unique. Other friends may stab us in the back or turn on us. But the lord is our hiding place. He is our Rock and our salvation. He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Although we may cause a breach in our relationship, God is never at fault. God wants His people to build a close relationship with Him. The Psalms show that to be a possibility.
Finally, the Psalms teach us that God is in control. He created and sustains life. He removes His spirit from man, and they return to dust. The nations rage and plot against the Lord, but He laughs at their vain attempts to deny His majestic eminence. The Lord has the power to lift up the humble and cast the wicked down to the ground. The Lord is one to be feared.
“The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect” (Psalm 33:10). “God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:8). He is the sole authority; The King of kings, and Lord of lords. How wonderful it is that we can converse with the ruler of this world.
To God we lift our voice in prayer, because our God is an awesome God. He reigns in heaven above, with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God! The Psalms tell of His great works. They speak of his terrifying wrath, and of his protective hand. God wants us to know that He is in control.
There are many lessons to be gained from the book of Psalms; however, we can be certain of these: God listens to His people, The Father desires a kinship with His children, and The King is in control. God’s people are richly blessed. Are you one of His people?
Brent Moody
