There are 150 Psalms in the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible (also called the Old Testament in the Christian Bible). The Book of Psalms is a collection of hymns, poems, and prayers that are organized into five books.
Psalm 131 is a short psalm that speaks about humility and trust in God. It begins with the words, “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” This is a declaration of humility, acknowledging that the psalmist is not proud or arrogant, and does not try to take on more than he can handle.
The psalm goes on to say, “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother’s breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul.” This speaks to the idea of finding peace and rest in God, like a child finds comfort and security in their mother’s embrace.
The psalm concludes with a prayer to God, asking for help in finding this kind of humble and trusting heart. It says, “O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.” This prayer is a call for the people of Israel to put their trust in God and to find peace and rest in him.
Psalm 132 is a psalm of David, in which he reflects on the promise that God made to him to establish his royal throne. The psalm begins with a declaration of David’s intention to find a dwelling place for the ark of the covenant, which was the symbol of God’s presence among the Israelites.
The psalm goes on to describe the struggles that David faced in trying to build a house for God, including the opposition of his enemies and the difficulties he encountered in finding a suitable location. Despite these challenges, David remains determined to fulfill his promise to God and to establish a lasting throne for his kingdom.
The psalm ends with a prayer for God’s blessings on the house of David, asking that it may be established forever and that God’s anointed one may be seated on the throne. It also includes a promise from David to praise and honor God, saying, “I will sing praises to your name forever and ever.”
Psalm 133 is a psalm that speaks about the importance of unity and the blessings that come from living in harmony with others. The psalm begins by describing the goodness of the unity that exists among the people of God, saying, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
The psalm goes on to describe the blessings that come from living in unity, likening it to the precious anointing oil that was used to consecrate the priests and the Tabernacle in the wilderness. It says, “It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!”
The psalm concludes with a prayer for God’s blessings on those who live in unity, saying, “So shall your name be praised forever, as long as the sun endures.” In this way, the psalm encourages the people of God to work towards unity and to enjoy the blessings that come from living in harmony with one another.
Psalm 134 is a song of praise to God, sung by the Levites who served in the Temple in Jerusalem. The psalm begins by calling on the people of God to bless the Lord, saying, “Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord!”
The psalm goes on to describe the various ways in which the Levites served in the Temple, including lifting up holy hands in prayer and blessing the Lord. It also calls on the people of God to bless the Lord and to give thanks to him for all the blessings that he has bestowed upon them.
The psalm concludes with a prayer for God’s blessings upon the people of Israel, saying, “May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!” In this way, the psalm encourages the people of God to give thanks to God for all the ways in which he has blessed them, and to seek his blessings on their lives.
Psalm 135 is a psalm of praise to God, in which the psalmist extols the greatness and goodness of God. The psalm begins by calling on the people of God to praise him, saying, “Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord.”
The psalm goes on to describe the many ways in which God is great and good, including his power and might, his faithfulness and mercy, and his acts of deliverance on behalf of his people. It also speaks of the greatness of God’s name and his enduring presence among his people.
The psalm concludes with a call for all people, both those who serve God and those who do not, to praise and honor him. It says, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” In this way, the psalm encourages the people of God to lift up their voices in praise and thanksgiving to God, and to give him the honor and glory that he is due.
Psalm 136 is a psalm of thanksgiving to God, in which the psalmist declares the enduring love and faithfulness of God. The psalm is structured around the refrain, “For his steadfast love endures forever,” which is repeated 26 times throughout the psalm.
The psalm begins by thanking God for his creation of the world and all that is in it, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” It then goes on to thank God for his acts of deliverance and salvation on behalf of his people, including his rescue of Israel from slavery in Egypt and his provision of manna in the wilderness.
The psalm concludes with a call for all people to give thanks to God, saying, “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” In this way, the psalm encourages the people of God to express their gratitude to God for all the ways in which he has blessed them and shown his faithfulness to them.
Psalm 137 is a lament psalm that speaks of the pain and sorrow of the Israelites during the Babylonian exile. The psalm begins with a description of the Israelites sitting by the rivers of Babylon, where they have been taken into captivity by the Babylonians. The psalm says, “By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.”
The psalm goes on to describe the longing and homesickness of the Israelites as they remembered their homeland and the city of Jerusalem. It says, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” This speaks to the sense of loss and displacement that the Israelites felt as they were forced to live in a foreign land, far from their home and their God.
The psalm concludes with a prayer for God’s vengeance on the Babylonians, saying, “Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” This prayer for judgment reflects the deep anger and bitterness that the Israelites felt towards their captors, and the desire for justice and retribution.
Psalm 138 is a psalm of thanksgiving to God, in which the psalmist declares his trust in God and his faithfulness to him. The psalm begins with a declaration of trust in God, saying, “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing your praise.”
The psalm goes on to speak of the greatness of God and his faithfulness to those who trust in him. It says, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.” This reflects the psalmist’s confidence in God’s protection and provision, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
The psalm concludes with a prayer for God’s blessings upon the psalmist and his kingdom, saying, “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” In this way, the psalm expresses the psalmist’s gratitude to God for his faithfulness and love, and his desire for God’s continued blessings on his life and the lives of his people.
Psalm 139 is a psalm that speaks about the all-knowing and all-powerful nature of God, and the psalmist’s trust in him. The psalm begins with a declaration of God’s omniscience, saying, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” This speaks to the idea that God knows every aspect of the psalmist’s life and being, and is intimately aware of his thoughts and actions.
The psalm goes on to describe the ways in which God is present with the psalmist at all times, even in the most secret and hidden places. It says, “Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” This reflects the psalmist’s trust in God’s protection and guidance, even in the most difficult and uncertain circumstances.
The psalm concludes with a prayer for God’s guidance and protection, saying, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” In this way, the psalm expresses the psalmist’s trust in God and his desire to live a life that is pleasing to him.
Psalm 140 is a psalm of lament and petition, in which the psalmist cries out to God for help and protection from his enemies. The psalm begins with a cry for deliverance, saying, “Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.”
The psalm goes on to describe the wickedness and violence of the psalmist’s enemies, and his need for God’s protection from them. It says, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!”
The psalm concludes with a prayer for God’s judgment on the psalmist’s enemies, saying, “Let the slanderer be put to shame, and let the scorner be silenced; let all those who seek your harm be turned back and put to shame!” In this way, the psalm expresses the psalmist’s trust in God to protect him from his enemies and to bring justice upon those who seek to harm him.