Many of the Psalms are among our favourite bits of the Bible, but we never usually consider the organisation of the whole collection.
The Psalter isn’t a random collection, but a carefully curated whole, with its own internal structure. So as well as looking at some key Psalms during this series, we will be learning about the structure of the Psalter, and tracing its key themes.
21 August 2025: Psalm 1
We begin with the Psalm that was selected as the introduction to the Psalter. Its message is about the blessings of meditating on God’s word, and the contrasting fortunes of the wicked.
28 August 2025: Psalm 15
Psalm 15 illustrates how the Psalter was intended to be like a second Torah – offering us wisdom and guidance on how to live the good life.
4 September 2025: Psalm 19
A poem in praise of creation, and Torah. The heavens speak of God’s glory – not in words, but if we have ears to hear, their message is loud and clear. God’s wonderful law is praised and extolled in a few small but beautifully constructed verses.
11 September 2025: Psalm 22
Today’s Psalm fits into the category of lament, with some heartrending descriptions of suffering. It also dramatically illustrates the experience of crucifixion, and so for Christians has been a powerful way to meditate on the sufferings of Christ.
18 September 2025: Psalm 40
In Psalm 40 we hear about trouble, and how the Lord has rescued the writer from it, but how it still haunts his life. What gives him hope, though, is that one day someone will come who will live a perfect life – the Messiah.
25 September 2025: Psalm 90
We leave behind Book 1 of the Psalter, which was nearly all Psalms of David, and dip into Book 4, which may have been curated as Psalms for worship during the Festival of Tabernacles. This Psalm meditates on God’s anger at our sin, to which the right response is prayer.